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Wheatley gives Paulwell, Robinson failing grades in ICT management

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Opposition spokesperson for Science, ICT, Digital Economy Development and the Environment, Dr Andrew Wheatley, today criticised Phillip Paulwell and Julian Robinson for failing “to implement a cohesive ICT strategy for the country”.
Dr Wheatley gave Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Paulwell, and his junior Minister Robinson failing grades for their stewardship of the ICT portfolio over the past two years.

Making his presentation in the sectoral debate in Gordon House, Dr Wheatley charged that the ministers “have failed to table critical ICT and Data Protection Legislation” and that “both have failed to implement a cohesive ICT strategy".

He blamed Jamaica’s 12 place decline in the recent World Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology Report, on the failure of Paulwell and Robinson to meet key targets outlined in their ICT roadmap, arguing that both “have failed to accelerate the creation of the Single ICT Regulator and both have failed to finalise the implementation of the much touted number portability regime”.

The Opposition spokesman also criticised the ministers for “not taking the issue of ICT as an enabler for economic growth seriously” and blamed them for “making announcements with very little action to back up these announcements”.